An Alternative Perspective
Greetings, pioneers of the future! I'd like to offer up a new perspective on an old, often underrated component of our professional landscape - 'soft skills'. Let's flip the script and replace the phrase 'soft skills' with 'hard human skills' (HHS) - a term that properly credits the gravitas and influence of these essential attributes.
The Core of the Matter
In the mechanistic world of AI and automation, it's our uniquely human skills that become our trump card. According to an in-depth study by McKinsey, about 30% of the activities in 60% of all occupations could be automated. The tasks that remain require a distinctly human touch, characterized by complex problem solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, and effective communication.
Fun Fact: Did you know that according to a study by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center, 85% of job success comes from well‐developed soft and people skills, while only 15% comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills)?
The "Hardening" of Soft Skills
While 'soft skills' might sound fluffy and optional, nothing could be further from the truth. These are 'hard human skills', hard-earned and tough to master. They are the difference between robotic efficiency and creative efficacy.
Just imagine a group of skilled engineers who lack communication skills. How effective would they be? Or a project manager devoid of empathy; would their team thrive?
Anecdote Alert 😅: I once worked with an AI expert who had all the technical skills one could dream of. Yet, his inability to relate to his team and superiors cost him several key promotions time and again. Here was an instance where an abundant supply of 'hard skills' was overridden by a lack of 'hard human skills' - nothing soft about it!
Hard Human Skills in Time Management
Time management, typically perceived as a simple, straightforward skill, becomes a 'hard human skill' when viewed through our new lens. It's not just about rigidly blocking out hours in a day. Rather, it's about understanding your mental rhythms, empathizing with the needs of others, and communicating boundaries effectively.
🔑🎯 Prioritize your tasks based not only on urgency but also on when you perform best. Some of us are morning larks, while others are night owls. Leverage your peak performance hours to tackle complex tasks.
The Transformative Aspect of Hard Human Skills
Investing in developing your HHS can transform your professional and personal life. LinkedIn's 2020 Workplace Learning Report found that 92% of professionals felt that HHS mattered as much as, if not more than, hard skills.
Intriguing Fact: A recent study by Boston College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan found that soft skills training, such as communication and problem-solving, boosts productivity and retention by 12% and delivers a 250% return on investment based on higher productivity and retention.
Closing Thoughts
In an age where the rapid advance of technology threatens to automate away repetitive tasks, 'hard human skills' – emotional intelligence, creativity, empathy, communication – are more crucial than ever. These skills are not just a 'nice to have' but an essential component of our professional toolkit.
With our unique ability to learn, empathize, create, and connect, we humans are better prepared than any AI to tackle the unpredictable challenges of the future. So, as we step into this exciting new world, let's remember to pack our most valuable equipment - our 'hard human skills'.
I challenge you to reassess your current skill set, identify areas for improvement, and work on them consciously. The future awaits, and it's a future where the human in us is celebrated. So embrace your humanity and its unique strengths. They may be harder to quantify than technical skills, but rest assured, they're the hard currency of our future.
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